Family Based Immigration

Houston Family-Based Immigration Lawyers

We Strive to Keep Your Family United – Call (713) 839-0639

Thousands of petitions are filed with the USCIS, how do you make sure that
you or your loved one's application is given due attention? At Simon
Law Group, our mission is to keep families together and help them realize
their dreams of immigrating to the United States. We believe that families
should never be separated. Many barriers, however, prevent families from
uniting, including unforeseen conditions to misunderstandings of the law.

When looking for legal counsel, you can feel confident relying on our lawyers
through this process, as they have both gone through the immigration process
and know precisely the challenges ahead. Whether you are in need of a
visa, are applying for a Green Card to obtain
lawful permanent resident status, or are working on the path toward U.S. citizenship, do not hesitate
to contact our Houston immigration attorneys at
Simon Law Group, PLLC.

What Are My Legal Options?

Our Houston immigration lawyers can provide you answers to help you resolve
even the most complicated of legal situations. Families become separated
by distance, time, and a whole host of other legal obstacles, and we want
to provide a remedy to help keep your family together. Are you or a loved
one applying for a visa or a green card? The process begins when that
family member petitions another family member to become a permanent resident.

U.S. citizens may petition the following family members:

A spouse

Any children under the age of 21

Parents, if you are at least 21

Any unmarried children 21 and over, as well as their children

Married children, any age, and their children

You sibling and their children, if you are 21 or over

Another option would be to sponsor that family member for a visa. You should
note, however, that visa applications can take a while to process. Even
the outcome of accurate, flawless applications can experience delays.
Furthermore, there is a limit on the number of
family preference immigrant visas every fiscal year.

The USCIS prioritizes applicants based on the following:

1st preference: Unmarried, adult children of U.S. citizens

2nd preference: Spouses and children of Permanent Residents

3rd preference: Married children of U.S. citizens

4th preference: Brothers or sisters of U.S. citizens

If you would like to become a permanent resident, thankfully, there are
a few ways to go about the process. You may qualify for several paths
to citizenship if that is the ultimate goal.

What Type of Family-Based Visa Do I Need?

These are the primary types of family-based immigration visas:
immediate relative visas (IR), family preference visas (F), and
fiancé visas (K). The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) enacted these laws specifically
to address immigration law in the U.S.

Our Houston immigration lawyers can help you decipher the various types
of family-based immigration visas so that you know which one will apply
to you or your loved one's situation.

Immediate Relative Visas

These are available to those who have a close familial relationship with
their family member

There are no limits to the number of eligible applicants every fiscal year

Immediate relatives may include the following:

The spouse of a U.S. citizen

Unmarried children under the age of 21

Adopted children of U.S. citizens

Parents of a U.S. citizen who is over 21

Family Preference Visas

Applies to family members who do not otherwise qualify for an IR visa.

There is a limited number of eligible applicants every fiscal year.

F visas extend to the following:

Unmarried children of U.S. citizens (23, 000 allotted)

Spouses, underage children, and unmarried children 21 and over (114, 200 allotted)

Married children of U.S. citizens (23, 400 allotted)

Siblings of U.S. citizens (must be at least 21 years old), as well as their
spouses and minor children (65, 000 allotted)

Fiancé Visas

Applies to who engaged to be married to U.S. citizens

Once married, the spouse can petition to become a U.S. permanent resident

Family-based immigration visas allow family members who have close ties
to the U.S. the chance for every person to live on the same soil. Applications
are considered in order of preference as listed above until the limit
has been reached.

Timing is everything with family-based visas.

The order of which the applications will be processed will depend on when
the petition was entered. It is in your best interests to consult first
with a seasoned Houston immigration lawyer to help ensure you stay one
step ahead of the entire process.

How Do I Begin?

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services must approve an
immigrant visa, called an I-130, Petition for Alien Relative. The family
relationship between the intended immigrant and his or her sponsor must
be one recognized by U.S.
immigration law.

Any United States sponsors that are petitioning for their siblings or parents
to join them in the U.S. must be at least be 21 years of age. For all
other requests regarding other family members, there is no minimum age
that the sponsor must be, however, in order to sign the Affidavit of Support,
Form I-864 or I-864-EZ required for a relative or spouse to come to the
U.S., the individual must be 18 years old.

Find Legal Assistance Today

Our Houston immigration lawyers know how confusing all of the elements
in family-based immigration can be. Between the deadlines, necessary paperwork,
and filing fees, we know it can be too much for one family to handle.
Because we know the immigrant experience well, our insight may prove to
be invaluable in cases such as this. We do not want to deepen the divide—we
want to bring your family closer.
We urge you to speak with us as soon as possible to help you with the immigration process!